Device for dispensing alkali and water



March 15, 1955 c. E. GANNON 2,704,241

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING ALKALI AND WATER Filed Aug. 31. 1949 mmvroa 6704/0? 5 60/2/7017 HTTOR/YEYS United States Patent DEVICE FOR DISPENSING ALKALI AND WATER Claude E. Gannon, Seattle, Wash.

Application August 31, 1949, Serial No. 113,383

1 Claim. (Cl. 23-267) My invention relates to improvements in cleaning material feeders for washing machines.

As an illustration and not as a limitation, my invention is applicable to apparatus for periodically feeding cleaning materials, such as alkalies, to dish washing machines of the spray type and which dish washing machines may be of the manual or automatic type. In this respect the term dish washing machines is employed as commonly understood in the art and includes devices for washing, cleansing, or sterilizing articles of various sorts and types which include but are not limited to table dishes.

In the prior art of dish washing machines, difiiculty existed in obtaining and maintaining a predetermined strength of alkali in the washing solution which was neither too high nor too low. A claimed apparatus and method for obtaining such desired strength of alkali cleaning solution is disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,006,085. Such patent discloses the use of alkalies in a solid or briquette form over which water is periodically discharged to provide a cleaning solution. The resultant effiuent cleaning solution is delivered to dish washing machines. One of the difficulties involved in such a procedure is that the alkalies which may be used, are limited due to problems inherent in the manufacture and use of alkalies in a solid form.

It is an object of the present invention to provide alkali dispensing means for use in connection with dish washing machines and which will function to periodically dispense or deliver predetermined amounts of an alkaline solution obtained from alkalies, in a powdered form, and water.

It is a further object of my invention to provide suitable retaining means in which powdered alkali may be retained to periodically deliver desired amounts of liquid thereon, and to periodically discharge the effluent liquid containing alkali into a dish washing machine.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a tray having upturned fluted walls and with a retaining ring carried by but disposed above the floor level of the tray so that powdered alkali may be disposed in the tray, liquid delivered over the alkali, and the effluent liquidalkali may pass under the ring and over the fluted edges of the tray and be delivered to any desired location, such as a dish washing machine.

It is a further object of my invention to provide apparatus which is manually or automatically operable to provide for periodic delivery of predetermined quantities of liquid and alkali.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a construction for dispensing an aqueous alkali solution or suspension to dish washing machines of the manual type or of the automatic type, which latter type periodically cleans and rinses dishes and periodically adds alkali solution.

A further object of my invention is to provide a main and circular basin into which alkali and water is periodically discharged and to provide a discharge of Water tangentially of the said main basin, to aid in the complete discharge of alkali therefrom, and to prevent accumulation of alkali theren.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention, together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Patented Mar. 15, 1955 Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, with parts broken away, of a device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of structure embodying my invention; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, with p arts in plan, taken substantially on broken line 3-3 of Referring now to the drawings, the device of the present invention is disposed at an elevation above or otherwise connected with a dish washing machine so that the efiluent liquid from the device of the present invention will be discharged into the dish washing machine. As an illustration thereof, a fragment 3 of the top portion of a dish washing machine is illustrated and with a device of my invention mounted thereon so that the discharge conduit 4 will deliver effluent liquid by gravity to the dish washing machine. In dish washing machines of the automatic type, where one batch of dishes is being washed in one compartment while another batch of dishes is being rinsed in another compartment, obviously the discharge conduit 4 must lead to the compartment in which dishes are being washed and in which a desired strength of alkali is to be maintained.

In my invention, liquid is to be periodically obtained from liquid inlet 5. If the device of my invention is connected with an automatic dish washing machine, the heated liquid cleaning medium, as water, is periodically discharged into the liquid inlet 5 and such discharge may be controlled by the same valve mechanism which periodically delivers water to the rinsing compartment of the dish washing machine. Also the control of water to the liquid inlet 5 may becontrolled by the same mechanism which is operated upon the entrance of a new batch of dishes into the dish washing compartment. If a device of my invention is to be used with manually operable dish washing machines, then appropriate valve means (now shown) may be interposed between the liquid inlet 5 and any suitable source of liquid under pressure so that water periodically under pressure is available in the liquid inlet 5. As the means to provide liquid under pressure periodically in liquid inlet 5 form no part of the present invention, the above general description is given and without specific illustration thereof.

The liquid inlet 5 preferably branches into conduits 6 and 7. Between liquid inlet 5 and each of the conduits 6 and 7 is preferably disposed adjustable valve means 8 and 9, respectively. These may be of the needle valve type so that relatively accurate adjustments may be obtained and maintained.

A container, formed of a floor 10, side wall 11, and removable top 12, is suitably connected to a support, as fragment 3, by any suitable means. In the drawings I have shown the side Wall 11 with an integral depending skirt resting on the fragment 3 and a floor 10 connected with said side wall 11. This is to be understood as being only by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, and if desired the floor 10 and the side wall 11 may be spun from one piece and the skirt may be a separate ring connected with the side wall 11. The top 12 is preferably removable to provide access to the inside of the container comprising floor 10 and side wall 11.

Preferably the top 12 is provided with an opening 13 with which the discharge end of conduit 6 registers so that the periodic delivery of water through opening 13 from conduit 6 is visibly indicated. This permits an operator to readily observe that water is being periodically discharged into the container 1011 as well as the amount thereof.

A tray 14 is supported by the floor 10 and raised therefrom by any suitable means. One means of raising the tray 14 above the level of the upper surface of the floor 10 is to provide a plurality of upwardly projecting mounds or convex portions 15 in the floor 10. If convex portions are to be employed to space the floor of the tray 14 from the floor 10, preferably three should be employed so that the tray 14 is relatively stable even though the portions 15 and floor 10 are not precisely constructed. Obviously, downwardly projecting portions or members may be carried by the tray 14 to space the same from the floor 10 in place of the upwardly projecting portions 15.

By reason of said convex portions 15, a space is provided between the bottom of tray 14 and the top of floor 10, into which alkali treating solutions are discharged. In order to keep said space clean at all times, hot water from conduit 7 enters said space. The discharge orifice of conduit 7 is tangentially disposed as respects said space and the hot water discharged from said conduit 7 is projected with a whirling or spiral path, washing the floor 10 and the bottom of tray 14. Liquids on floor 10 are discharged out discharge conduit 4 and form a part of the alkali cleaning solution.

The upwardly projecting edges of the tray 14 are provided with a series of flutes 16 which are preferably like a long, continuous sine curve. The flutes 16 thus space a ring 17 from the side walls of the tray 14 and leave a space out through which liquids may leave and overflow the upper edges of the tray 14. By having relatively long curving flutes 16, a very substantial annular opening is provided between the ring 17 and the tray 14.

The ring 17 has its lower edge spaced above the top of the floor 10 of the tray 14. This may be accomplished by means carried by the tray 14, as a plurality of rods 18 (Fig. 1) carried by and circumferentially spaced about the tray 14, and which support the lower edge of the ring 17. The rods 18 are shown as right angle members, each of which is connected at one end portion to the side walls of the tray 14 and at the other end portion with the bottom of the tray 14. Thus while rods 18 are in their simplest forms merely upwardly projecting members carried by the tray 14 and alined with the ring 17, the particular form indicated has been adopted for manufacturing advantages and for cleaning purposes.

Also the ring 17 may have its lower portion spaced above the floor of the tray 14 by means carried by the ring 17. As an illustration thereof, in Fig. 2 a plurality of posts 19 are carried by and circumferentially disposed about the ring bility three rods 18 are shown in Fig. 1 and three posts 19 are indicated in Fig. 2.

By either the construction shown in Fig. 1 or that shown in Fig. 2, a space is provided between the bottom of ring 17 and the top of the floor of the tray 14. While such space may vary in size, I have found that approximately A; of an inch is sufficient so far as the elevation is concerned, to facilitate the desired mode of operation. Also the space between ring 17 and an outward convolution of one of the flutes 16 may be substantially A of an inch. The ring 17 should have a height about two times the height of the side walls of the tray 14 to provide for desired capacity and action.

In the operation of my device, granular alkalies are disposed within the ring 17 and on the tray 14. The alkalies may be disposed substantially up to the top of the ring 17. Any suitable granular alkalies may be employed, depending upon the cleaning agents desired, and such are well known in the art. It is particularly important to note that I am not limited in my invention as to the alkalies that can be employed as they need not be furnished in any particular form or have any particular characteristics, such as being capable of being compressed and furnished in a solid or briquette form. Preferably the water or treating liquid delivered via the conduit 6 will be of the same temperature employed in washing the dishes. This permits the liquid to contain, in solution, more alkali than would be possible if the temperature of the water were lower. As the treating solution is to be diluted by the washing water employed in the dish washing machine, it is desirable to furnish a concentrated effiuent solution via discharge conduit 4 so that a desired strength of dish washing solution will obtain and without excess solution delivered from the discharge conduit 4. Also the use of hot water, or water of the same temperature as employed in dish washing, permits the liquid inlet to be connected with the means for periodically delivering additional water to the dish washing machine as the alkali strength diminishes in the dish washing machine. The alkali strength diminishes,

in a dish washing machine as water is discharged from 17. Again in the interest of sta-.

the dish washing machine and additional clean water is injected into the dish washing machine.

As liquid is being discharged from conduit 6 onto the alkali in the tray 14, efiiuent liquid will pass over the edges of the ring 17, between the ring 17 and the edges of the tray 14, and over the edges of the tray 14. When the device is first put in operation and during normal operation after the device has been operated for a reasonable period of time, effluent liquid will pass both over and under the ring 17 and thence over the edges of the tray 14. However, as hot water is delivered upon the alkali, the solution tends to be supersaturated and upon cooling of the alkali and water thereon, the alkali tends to solidify. Thus upon operation of the device after an interruption, the alkali in the tray 14 is relatively solid and until the same goes into solution or suspension again, efiiuent liquid passes over the ring 17 and into the space between the ring 17 and the edge of the tray 14. While most of the liquid passes over the edge of the tray 14, some of the liquid passes inwardly of the tray 14 and opens spaces in the alkali so that some of the liquid thereafter can pass downwardly of the alkali in the tray 14 and thence below the ring 17. Etfluent liquid overflowing the edges of the tray 14 passes into the space between the bottom of tray 14 and the top of the floor 10. In such space the effluent liquid is urged toward discharge conduit 4 by reason of water discharging from conduit 7, and at the same time the floor 10 and the bottom of tray 14 are thoroughly washed by the whirling water so that said space is kept clean and the alkali in so- 111K101; or suspension is delivered out the discharge conult Obviously changes may be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangements of parts of my invention without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment of my invention.

I claim:

A device for dispensing alkali and water comprising a container having a discharge outlet at the bottom thereof; a tray disposed in said container and having a substantially horizontally disposed imperforate floor and upstanding, imperforate substantially vertically disposed fluted side wall portions, said fluted side wall portions providing spaces between the same and the inner walls of the container; an alkali retaining member disposed in said tray, said retaining member having substantially vertically positioned imperforate fluted wall portions conforming substantially to the shape of the side wall portions of the tray, spaced inwardly of the side walls of said tray by the fluted configurations thereof, and extending upwardly from adjacent the floor of and to above the side walls of said tray to form a shelf member above the top of the said tray, the floor of said tray and said retaining member forming the floor and side walls of a receptacle for receiving alkali therein; means cooperating with said retaining member and said tray elevating the lower edge portion of the retaining member above the level of the floor of said tray; and means to discharge water on alkali in said retaining member, whereby aqueous alkali may flow under said retaining member, thence upwardly between said retaining member and the side walls of the tray, and thence over the side walls of said tray to the discharge outlet at the bottom of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,388,136 Whitney Aug. 16, 1921 1,512,009 Brower Oct. 14, 1924 1,523,645 Horten Jan. 20, 1925 1,586,336 Solly May 25, 1926 1,611,773 Parnell Dec. 21, 1926 1,934,304 Guth Nov. 7, 1933 2,038,260 Ash Apr. 21, 1936 2,387,945 McDow Oct. 30, 1945 2,471,158 Livingstone May 24, 1949 

